How Not to Launch a boat

[samo_ott]

So I was in the Florida Keys last week. Pull up to a ramp in Islamorada and see the last 6" of the roof of an Toyota SUV slip under the waves!

Of course the owners were on the dock freaking out. I guess they have not set the brake or put it in park.

So I offered to help em pull it out with my jeep if they could get a rope on it. The guy went down with a mask to tie on a rope but the Toyota had rolled off the end of the concrete ramp and dropped a foot... Even deeper. Oops.

That SUV is toast. Salt water in everything.

When I left there was a gas and oil slick forming over it... Eeuuiiee...

 

[Firestar]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

The owners had to have that sinking feeling.

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I worry about that being 2wd. Only the rears are locked when in park and the parking brake are used.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

damn!!!! That sucks! If there was that kind of oil and gas slick, then they most likely got fined on top of it all. If they polluted the water they should have been fined for being that stupid as to loose their vehicle into the water. What kind of boat were they launching?

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Dang that would suck! So the SUV was still in the water when you left? As Drewmitch asked "What kind of boat were they launching"? That would be nice to know.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I'm not saying nuthin... soon as I do, It's gonna be me that forgets the parking break that day that parking paw in the transmission breaks... or any one of several other scnerios... damn that would suck!

 

[John_S]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

or they left in neutral... Launching or retrieving?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Just another way of getting out from under the payment! But the insurance money may well go toward the environmental cleanup fines.

 

[njlarry]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Wish more folks would use a chock under a wheel.

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Wish more folks would use a chock under a wheel.

Thats my plan when I get a boat!

 

[lrlima]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Hmm, watch out for any ebay auctions for "recently professionally cleaned Toyota SUVs"

 

[Willyclay]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I have some buddies who did that with a Winnebago when they launched their sailboat in Pensacola. It was not a total loss. Be safe!

 

[rndn]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

I can't seem to be able to see the trailer in the picture. Chocks attached to the front part of the trailer somehow so one would not forget to use them would sure have helped.

 

[Dave K.]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

That's my question, was the boat still on the trailer, which was attached to the car, which was underwater? can't tell from the pics. double wammy!

definitly chocks this year!

 

[wncrjb]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

since he probably got water in the oil, think he will check his manifolds and risers for cracks? LOL

wncrjb

 

[drewpster]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Reminds of a mishap I witness. I watched a boater dump a fairly large pontoon boat off a roller bunk trailer. Evidently he removed the tie downs before backing down the ramp. One tap of the brake pedal and she rolled right off the trailer on to pavement! That's entertainment folks.

I bet the owner of the sunken Toyota felt even better when you said "hey, mind if I snap a few photos?" LOL

Geez, I do feel bad for them really.
When I was a kid I let a freight tractor (minus trailer) roll unmanned out of a shop door, down a slope and into a trailer. i can talk!

"Money Don't Fix Stupid" quote I heard somewhere.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

damn!!!! That sucks! If there was that kind of oil and gas slick, then they most likely got fined on top of it all. If they polluted the water they should have been fined for being that stupid as to loose their vehicle into the water. What kind of boat were they launching?

I don't know what the boat was, I didn't really look as it was on the far side of the dock. It was a 20'er center console or so with a 150 hp or so as a quick guess.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Oh, and I tried to discretely snap the photos. They were running all over, I don't think they noticed.

And they were launching the boat I believe.

What I wondered is, think of backing up a trailer, how tricky it is to get it go straight. What's the chance of that rig rolling backwards with the trailer not jack knifing! Rare, one would think.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

ctually that wasn't an accident at all and there was no boat or trailer .... that's one of those new fangled SUVs ...... Submarine Utility Vehicle!

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: How Not to Launch a boat

Could your jeep not have pulled it back onto the ramp? I can't imagine that happening, the panic of it, with all the spectators...Oh Man.